Exoplanets & habitability · p ≈ R★ / a
Transit Probability
The geometric chance that a planet's orbit is aligned edge-on enough for it to transit its star as seen from Earth. Only about one in 215 for an Earth-like orbit — which is why transit surveys must watch so many stars at once.
Geometric transit probability0.46505%
Formula: p ≈ R★ / a
Worked example
With the default inputs, transit probability evaluates to 0.46505 % — Sun-like star at 1 AU → ~0.47%. The validator recomputes this against the known value on every build, so the formula is checked, not asserted.
Highlights
- ›Earth-analog: ~0.47%
The physics behind it
Knowledge connections
- Associated withTransit Method
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.